.... and a reporter
at the scene wrote
| “Much nautical skill was displayed in the
manoeuvring of the various squadrons. Every hoy, smack,
wherry etc. in the vicinity of Whitstable was crowded with
company and formed quite a fair upon the ocean” |
In
addition, at least two of the spectating boats had bands aboard
and tents were erected along the shore which was lined with
spectators. That first regatta would have been held off
Whitstable, not Tankerton.
This was at a
time when the French revolution was coming to an end and it is no
real surprise that the boatmen from this area showed great skill
– many of them were employed in ferrying fleeing refugees from
France (not to mention a little recreational smuggling!).
As an aside, it was only a few years later that those men from
Whitstable were volunteering to fight Napoleon.
The
Next Hundred Years
The Regatta was
still going strong throughout the 19th Century, during which the
activity switched to the old backwater or reservoir (now under
the Gorrell Tank). To quote a Newspaper again…"Here
such a sight that had not been seen before in Whitstable for
years was presented as the visitors surrounded the great pool in
crowds to get a glimpse of the struggle of unfortunate pigs
dislodged, after many vain attempts from a box at the end of the
greasy pole into the water, or watch the proceedings of numerous
bipeds of aquatic tendencies". – I doubt that either the
organisers or the crowds would think this a good use of pigs
today!
By the end of
the 19th Century, it had grown into one of the big events in
North Kent. The main sailing events moved back to the sea
but this time off Tankerton where they remain to this day.
Also around this time the fireworks were introduced and, I
believe, were let off next to the backwater so their reflection
could be seen in the water
Fast
Forward to Living Memory
During the
60’s and early 70’s, the Regatta was one of the highlights of
the summer holidays – Punch and Judy, swing boats, ice cream,
the greasy pole and the fireworks! Little did I know that
20 years later I would be organising it!
In those days
the Regatta was run by the Regatta Committee, an organisation in
its own right and just like the carnival committee, at the time,
it concentrated on a single event. Centred around Tankerton
Slopes, there were sailing races, swimming races and an air sea
rescue demonstration on the sea plus children’s races, charity
stalls, a fun fair and fireworks on the land. I am pretty
certain it was just held on one day.
During the
70’s, the fireworks disappeared and, in the early 80’s, the
organisers found it more and more difficult to generate interest
and slowly it started to shrink. By the mid 80’s, it had
become a relatively small event and it was in danger
disappearing for good. At this point, Ken Boxall, the
committee chairman, approached the local Lions Club to take it
on, which they did in 1985.
In order to keep the organisation
separate from “normal” Lions affairs, a small committee was
formed to oversee the event. In addition, the accounts were (and
I think still are) completely separate. This is to ensure that,
when the Regatta is handed over to the next custodians, it goes
with the accounts and funds necessary for a secure future.
I first became involved in ’86, under the leadership of Geoff
Newman (late of Newman the Chemists in Swalecliffe). After
a year learning the ropes, I was chairman in ’87 and, together
with Ian Marshallsay, who still lives in the town, and Andrew
Montwill, formed the committee.
